By Emily Roach, Paws in Work guest blogger.

what is a rescue dog.

A rescue dog needs rehoming for a variety of reasons; their owner may not be able to look after them anymore, they may have been found abandoned as a stray, or they have been rescued from a life-threatening situation such as being used for puppy farming or dog fighting.

Any dog in need of a new home is then taken to a rehoming shelter, such as Battersea Dogs Home, where they will be assessed physically and mentally and will be rehabilitated until they are ready for their new forever home. The same process applies to stray dogs abroad, and sometimes they will be flown to another country to their new owners.

the facts.

• According to research, around 130,000 dogs need homing every year in the UK
• You can rehome a dog from a rescue centre abroad, you are not confined to your country of residence
• Some dogs are rehomed due to circumstances beyond their previous owner’s control
• One of the main factors of dogs ending up in rescue shelters is from behavioural issues due to a lack of socialisation and training
• During lockdown, the demand for puppies surged, which subsequently lead to people giving them up due to not considering the responsibility of looking after a dog on both a physical and financial aspect
• This has also led to the increase in the illegal activity of puppy farming and other forms of unethical breeding – read our blog on ethical dog breeding and red flags to look out for when searching for the right breeder

what to consider when rehoming a dog. am i ready?

There’s a lot to think about before rehoming a dog or puppy; this is a huge commitment. It’s important to have all the background information on the dog you need, and you’ll want to make sure you’re 100% certain of your decision, to avoid having to return them back to the rescue shelter.

Firstly, you need to consider the breed of dog you’re looking for and the age group. These factors will influence how much space you’ll need along with the dog’s energy levels and financial requirements. A lot of strays can be a mixture of more than two breeds, so it may be harder to learn about their needs, as well as potential health problems that may occur in the future, so you’ll need to be equipped for potential unknown traits.

A dog that is being rehomed will need you to be very accommodating and patient with them whilst they’re settling into their new surroundings. Unfortunately, many of the dogs that are rehomed could have experienced physical and emotional neglect from their previous circumstances. This will require a deeper understanding of their psychology and training. Dogs that have behavioural issues because of neglect may not be suited to homes with young children or other animals. You will need to discuss this with the adoption centre as each dog will have different needs.

If you feel you are ready to commit to putting in the extra work of training and patience with your dog, as well as weighing up the responsibility and their individual needs, then you are ready to make the step of rehoming. This may take a considerable amount of time to achieve the desired results, but it will be worth the wait when your dog reciprocates the love you give them and is able to live a happy life.

what are paws in work doing to help.

As previously mentioned, one of the main factors leading to puppies and dogs being taken to rehoming shelters are behaviour issues. Some puppies and dogs who were rescued from unethical breeding scenarios may have been given zero socialisation and training and will not know how to act appropriately with humans and other animals. Whereas others may have been brought up in loving homes, but the owners may have not grasped dog training so easily which can then progress to bad behavioural traits if left unaddressed.

Our mission at Paws in Work is to not only benefit the mental health of people who come to our courses and puppy therapy sessions, but to also shape a bright and joyful future for the puppies themselves. We ensure that all the litters of puppies who work with us are exposed to as many healthy experiences as possible during the crucial socialisation period between 8-12 weeks of age. This is to help give the puppies the confidence they need when going to their forever homes and understanding positive interactions with humans and animals.

We have strict criteria when choosing breeders to work with, but if we find a litter of rescue pups who match the criteria, we would be more than happy to work with them to give them the best possible start in life for when they go to their new homes.

We’re also here to help educate people on identifying what dogs and puppies need, and how to give them the correct guidance and training to prevent them from ever needing to be rehomed. It’s just as important for owners to be given the needed knowledge than dogs being trained to be obedient.

puppy therapy.

Whether you’re in need of some wholesome cuddles with our litters of pups or you’re a breeder looking to give your pups some fantastic opportunities for socialisation, we want to hear from you! Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss things further. You can also find out more about our puppy therapy here; we also offer virtual puppy therapy for those who are working remotely. We look forward to welcoming you to our puppy therapy soon!